HARRY WINSTON

Premier Precious Moon Phase Automatic 36mm

October 16, 2018

The House of Harry Winston brings the Moon and the stars to the heavenly Premier Precious Moon Phase Automatic 36mm timepieces. Set against a constellation of diamonds and twinkling aventurine stars, the moon phase complication reveals all its secrets proving that mechanical complications are as intricate and beautiful as the workings of the cosmos.

A celestial canopy
Harry Winston recalls its fine jewelry expertise and brings its legacy of precious gemstones to the realm of watchmaking. Once again, a poetic moon phase complication holds sway on the dial of these two new members of the Premier Collection, animated with sparkling aventurine, iridescent mother-of-pearl and a constellation of starry diamonds.

Presented in an 18-karat white gold version with a glittering blue aventurine dial and an 18-karat rose gold model with a Havana-hued aventurine dial, the Premier Precious Moon Phase depicts the motions of our neighboring satellite with Harry Winston’s artistic flair for combining precious materials with radiant gemstones.

Nothing to hide
Traditional moon phase complications stage the four main cycles of the moon as it completes its orbit of Earth. To reenact the lunar cycle of approximately 29.5 days, watchmakers resort to two images of the moon, driven by a 59-toothed wheel that is, in turn, attached to the hour wheel. The novelty here is that instead of displaying just one moon in the aperture, Harry Winston watchmakers have exposed the innate beauty of the moon phase complication by revealing both moons.

A touch of heaven on Earth
The white tridimensional mother-of-pearl moons transit from new moon to full moon against a powdery-blue or brown mother-of-pearl sky and glow with a celestial aura. Positioned at 6 o’clock on the dial, the twin moons play a game of hide- and-seek as they rotate under a diaphanous, domed diamond cage.

Composed of nine gold diamond-set spokes, the open area of the cage indicates the current phase of the moon.

The entire surface of the diamond cage is micro-set with 93 brilliant-cut diamonds and crowned in the center by a larger diamond. Once again, the extraordinary skills of Harry Winston’s gem-setters come to the fore in this miniature showcase of diamond setting, where claw setting was out of the question given the diminutive area involved.

Space is curved
Volume plays a fundamental role in the Premier Precious Moon Phase timepiece and reminds us of the three-dimensional aspect of Harry Winston’s high jewelry pieces. To achieve dimension on a potentially flat surface, Harry Winston watchmakers have incorporated a domed diamond cage that reaches up from the dial towards the sapphire crystal glass. Another area of volume has been created by elevating the aventurine disc framing the excentered hours and minutes counter. Like an imaginary constellation, the eight diamonds set on the elevated aventurine platform get larger as they reach the moon phase complication. The prominent emerald-cut diamond set at 12 o’clock on the dial is a direct reference to Harry Winston’s preferred diamond cut – the emerald-cut.

A mechanical cosmos
Instantly recognizable by the diamond-set lugs that replicate the shape of the arched entrance to Harry Winston’s Fifth Avenue Flagship Salon, the case of the Premier Precious Moon Phase is set with 57 brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel and lugs.

The hours, minutes and moon phase functions of the Premier Precious Moon Phase are powered by a high-end Swiss mechanical automatic movement with a generous power reserve of 68 hours. Equipped with a flat silicon balance spring, the incorporation of the latest technology in watchmaking will ensure years and years of impeccable service and optimize the overall isochronism of the movement.

Naturally, the signature attention to detail synonymous with all Harry Winston creations is pursued all the way through to the movement. Decorated with circular Côtes de Genève motifs, rhodium plating and circular graining, the movement and the rose gold openworked rotor can be admired through the sapphire crystal case back.

The Premier Precious Moon Phase Automatic 36mm comes with a seamless blue or brown alligator strap and an 18-karat white or rose gold ardillon buckle set with 17 brilliant-cut diamonds.